Milwaukee Bucks Game Preview: Feb. 26 vs Phoenix Suns
By Ti Windisch
Major Key For Phoenix: Stay Out Of Foul Trouble
The Phoenix Suns foul everybody. The Suns average 24.8 personal fouls per game, which leads all NBA teams. Phoenix’s fast pace and lack of capable defenders throughout the rotation play into that number, and the Suns’ propensity for fouling plays into their low win total this season.
Putting opponents in the bonus unnecessarily makes it very hard to win games. All of a sudden, reach in fouls and blocking fouls lead to free throws instead of simply a quick play stoppage. Even against Phoenix’s porous defense, a pair of free throws is eons more efficient than any kind of play.
When the Suns have avoided fouling the hell out of opponents, they’ve actually been pretty decent. Phoenix is 7-4 when they commit 20 or less personal fouls in a game this season, and 11-36 when they commit 21 or more fouls.
It will be difficult, if not impossible, for the Suns to not hack away at Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak is a master at getting to the second level of a defense, and there aren’t many players who can stop him once he’s there without fouling him.
The Suns will need to be smart and pick their spots on hacking Giannis. If they get too foul-happy, the Bucks will cash in on tons of easy points at the charity stripe, making it very tough for Phoenix to pull out the win.